Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Accountability Shahzad Akbar said that the Asset Recovery Unit has traced assets of worth Rs700 billion in 10 countries.
He was addressing a joint news conference, along with Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Media Iftikhar Durrani and PTI leader Senator Faisal Javed Khan in Islamabad on Monday.
Shahzad Akbar said these assets were acquired through money laundering and fake accounts. He said initially only big fish are being targeted. He said over 1.3 billion dollars were laundered abroad through five thousand fake accounts.
The special assistant said Pakistan has become the third biggest country, whose citizens own real estate in Dubai. He said more information will be shared with the people as the ARU deciphers the data received from various countries, including Dubai Land Authorities.
Pakistan is the top third country to invest in the real estate of Dubai, PM’s special aide said.
“After our government came to power, it received transactions of $4.7 billion,” he revealed saying that all information related to Iqama holders is being procured on a state-level from foreign countries.
Presenting the figures, Akbar mentioned, in last decade, Pakistanis bought properties in Dubai, which worth $15 billion. “Initially, we are chasing people who posses assets above $1 million,” he stated.
As the government gathers more information, the names of culprits will be placed in the exit control list (ECL), moreover, Akbar apprised that talks are underway with a few countries regarding the legal aspects of freezing the laundered money of the culprits.
Taking an aim at Pakistan Peoples Party co-chariman Asif Zardari, Shahzad Akbar said, “an angel comes and deposits money into people’s accounts and then he has the audacity to say, in the TV interview, to corroborate the charges.”
Akbar apprised that talks are underway with few countries regarding the legal aspects of freezing the laundered money of culprits.
The probe into Hill Metal Company is in its concluding phase and it was found that its money is being transferred into Nawaz Sharif’s Wapda Town Lahore bank account, Akbar continued.
Referring to the money laundering case involving Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), former NAB deputy prosecutor said that evidences against the party were shared with the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).
A meeting with Swiss officials is also expected by the end of November which will further expose the corruption of political leaders, Akbar hinted during the presser.
Iftikhar Durrani said properties worth 15 billion dollars were acquired by Pakistanis in Dubai only during last 10 years. He said ARU is working in collaboration with other institutions to trace the ill gotten money.
Faisal Javed Khan said PTI government is committed to curb corruption and money laundering at all costs as per its election manifesto.
